Sheet-folding machine



June 9, 1925.-

H. K. KING SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6,

A y 1 HM \f/Kk; h t 9: 1 1. .w .Z r w am 1% T. E F W q H. K. KING SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Fil F 6, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N r N N a N H. K. KING SHEET FOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb- 1924 Patented Jane 9, 1925.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOXVARD K. KING, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 CHAMBERS I BROTHERS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SHEET-FOLDING MACHINE.

Application filed Fehruaryfi, 1924. Serial No. 690,921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD K. IING,-2L citizen of the United States, res1d1ng at Philadelphia, in. the county of- Philadelphia,"

State ofPennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Sheet-Folding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sheet folding machines. The object is to provide improved means for bringing the sheet to final accurate position against its stops and maintaining the same in said position during the side registering operation and prior to the folding operation.-

.The invention includes the method and means for securing the movement of the guide rods into overlapping-position to facilitate the passage of the sheet over the slit; the method and means for controlling the movement of the sheet as it comes into contact with the stops, and for securing the completion of the movement of the sheet evenly to the stops; the method and means for coo aeratin with the side re isterin den y e a c I a rice in maintaining the sheet agalnst the stops during its sidewise movement; and the method and means for maintaining the sheet against the stops until it 1s operated upon by the folding blade.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate, merely by way of example, suitable means for effecting my invention l is a side elevation of a portion of a foiding machine provided with my im proved means.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary eleva- LlOil.

Fig. 8 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale on line 3, 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. -l is a detail in elevation on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5;is a plan view of same.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line 6,6 of

Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of part of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. Sis a fragmentary detail on enlarged scale of the rod shifting mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail on enlarged scale of the stop and stop supporting mechanisma Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

InFigs. 1 and 2, the elements 11 and 12 are the elements forming the slit through these slit elements are shown in the open or operative position, for receiving the sheet.

In Fig. 2, the elements are shown in the V substantially closed position, that is with element 11 moved over into close proximity to element 12, to permit the sheet to pass over the slit as it travels into initial position, with its front edge against suitable stops, as at 16.

The slot element 11 is reciprocated into open and closed position by means of the bars 17 connected to the pivot blocks 18 operated by the crank arms 19 mounted on shaft 21 which is in operative relationship with'the rotating cam 20 through the lever 22, connecting rod 23 and lever 24 provided with roller 25.

A plurality of horizontal substantially parallel guide rods 26 and 27 are provided; the. rods 26 supported in a plane slightly above the plane of the rods 27, so that the sheets to be operated upon may pass between the upper and lower sets of rods in the direction of their longitudinal extension, in accordance with the usual practice. The lower set of rods 26 are secured at their forward ends to the structure of the slit element 11, while the upper rods 26 are connected near their forward ends to asuitable cross bar 28 supported by the connecting position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bars 26 and will have a corresponding longitudinal movement, so that when the slit is closed, as in Fig. 2, the ends of rods 26 will overlap the ends of guide rods 30, and there i will be no danger of the edge of the sheet meeting any obstruction as it passes between rods 26 and 27, 1nto initial position.

While, as a preferred construction, I have shown the rods 26 and 27 moving with the slit member 11, it will be obvious that either or both sets of rods 26 and 27 may be shifted independently of the slit mechanism. I

have shown the top of slit element 12 raised 7 whether the slit elements are closed or are slightly above the top of element 11, so that with some grades of paper the sheet maybe readily passed over the slit while in Open position, in which case it is especially important that tlie rods 26 be brought into a position with ends overlapping the ends of rods 30, to prevent the edge of the sheet from being caught between the ends of the rods. It is advantageous therefore to shift the rods into said overlapping position,

permitted to remain open.

It w ll also be noted that the rods 26 are capable of ad-pistment vertically, by means of the slot and bolt engagement, as at 31,

between the supporting bar 32 and the uprights 33. These uprights 33 are mounted on cross bar 48.,

In order to prevent the sheet from bOUTlC ing away from the stops, and also in order to assure its complete movement into engagement with said stops, the following means are provided Upon or in connection with certain of the rods 26, properly spaced across the machine, in order to insure even control of the sheet, are provided pressure contact or friction elements such as the flat springs These springs or friction devices are all substantially alike, as to their construction, method of support and adjustment.

The spring elis satisfactorily made Eron'r a piece'o't resilient sheet metal. It is secured, as by rivets 35, toblock 36. This block 36 is mounted on the pivot pin 37 projecting from element 38 of a clamping device. 'The block 36 is held in position on the pivot pin. 37 by the cotter 39. T he clement 3S cooperates with element 4.6 to form a clamp to engage a rod 26. The clamping pressure is adjustably maintained by the bolt and nut :1. There is also secured to element 38 a threaded lug or nut t2, through which projects a set-screw 43 having the operating head :iftt. The end of screw l? engages block 36 to one side of the axis of its inoveniient on pivot 37, so as to tilt the block, in order to secure the required pressure of the end d6 of spring 3st upon the sheet wnich passes beneath the sainc.

The clamping elements 38*t( may obviously be secured at any desired point on any of the rods 26. The screw 13' may be operated to secure the required tension of the contact or friction spring 34. The end 46 is adapted to engage the sheet {t7 agail st the rod 27 directly over which the spring exerts its pressure.

These contact springs 34; are preferably positioned evenly across the sheet and so that their ends 46 shall engage the sheet sli htly in advance of the usual side registering device, that is, slightly nearer the stops 16 than the transverse line through the side registering device lf), as indicated naeneio in Fig. A suitable side registering device, ivhich is adapted to pull the sneet into proper side register, after it has reached the stops 16, is' shown and described in my Patent No. 1,466,660, dated Sept. at, 1923, and these friction devices 34 cooperate with said side registering device, as will be demoved toward slit element 12, so as to sub here however, the sl t is not closed, the torn iation of slit Sammie close e sl telement 12, with its top surface raised above the plane of th top surface of slit element 11, serves to carry the front edge of the sheet safely over the slit. In either case it is important to have the ends of guide rods 26 and overlapping to prevent the sheet from catching between said ends. It follows there'fore that when the 7 sheet is passing over the slit, the rods 26 are in the extreme right hand position.

The sheet thus passing between the rods 2-6 and 27, nnder rods 26 and over rods 27, also passes under the friction springs 3st, that is, between the friction springs .34: and the rods 27. The tension of the springs will be obviously such as will permit this movement o the sheet without cruinpling or injury thereto. hen the sheet encounters the stops 16, there sometimes a tendency for it to bounce bacl; from the stop and thus come to, rest slightly out of the correct initial PQQIlOIl, The ends {t6 of springs 3d, however, resting lightly upon the sheet, preferably at a plurality of evenly distributed points, will counteract this tendency and prevent such bouncing. It sometimes happens however, that the sheet does not reach the stops 16 along its entire front edge, and therefore does not assume its correct initial position for the operation there on. of the blade 13; or it may be, that, under certain conditions of speed or character of sheet, there may be some bouncing back from the stops Either contingency is entirely met in the following manner: Upon the movement to the left, of the friction springs 34, the sheet, being gently engaged between the ends '-l -6 of springs 2-H, and a suitable sheet support, such for example as rods 27, is moved with said elements until its entire front edge engages squarely with the stops 16; after which the ends -16 of springs 3e simply slide over the sheet during the completion of the left hand movement of said rods 26 andQT.

ltwill o't' course be understood that the lll) mechanism shown, whereby the springs are mounted on the reciprocating rods 26, and the reciprocating rods 27 are utilized to cooperate with the springs 34, is merely given as a preferred embodiment, and that the springs 34 may obviously be mounted on any properly synchronized reciprocating support and similar reciprocating elements may be utilized for supporting the sheet beneath the springs,

After the sheet is brought into position, with its front edge squarely against the stops 16, asabove described, the side registering device operates upon the sheet; and, since it engages the sheet at a point close to, or slightly in advance of the line of friction contact of the friction elements 3 1-, the frictional engagement of these elements with the sheet tends to maintain the front edge of the sheet squarely against the stops 16, during its sidewise movement.

In this manner and by the means, substantially as described, the sheet 47 is al ways brought into and maintained in the proper initial position, against stops 16, prior to the operation thereon of the knife or folding blade 13.

What I claim is v 1. In a sheet folding machine, the com bination of means forminga slit, a folding blade for co-operating therewith, a plurality of longitudinally extending guide rods having ends normally terminating on each side of the slit to afford passage for the folding blade, and means for reciproeating certain of said rods to cause a' periodic overlapping of said ends to facilitate the passage of the frontedge of the sheet over the slit.v v v 2. In a sheet folding machine, the combination of slit elements, means for actuating a slit element to open and close the slit, guide rods extending longitudinally of the travel of the sheet, some above and others below the plane of said travel, and means for supporting and actuating said rods so as to move relatively with a movable slit clement.

3. In a sheet folding machine, the combination of slit forming elements, means for closing the slit to facilitate the passage of the sheet over the same, a plurality of horizontal guide rods and means for causing longitudinal reciprocation. of certain offor closing the slit to facilitate the passage f the sheet over the same, a plurality of horizontal guide rods and means for causing longitudinal reciprocation of certain of said guide rods simultaneously with the movement of a slit element.

6. In a sheet folding machine, the co m bination of a plurality of sheet guiding rods, a plurality of frictional contact devices 007 operating with the rods for engaging the sheet on parts of its surface i'emovedfroin its front edge, and means for reciprocating said contact devices, one movement of reciprocation beingin the direction of the travel of the sheet.

T. In a sheet folding machine, the Quillbination of a plurality of guide rods extending longitudinally of the travel of the sheet, and reciprocating means associated with said rods, having frictional engagement with the sheet, one movement of reciprocation being in the direction of the travel of the sheet.

8. In a sheet folding machine, the combination of slit forming elements, means for closing the slit to facilitate the passage of the sheet over the same, a plurality of horizontal guide rods, means for causing longitudinal reciprocation of certain of said guide rods simultaneously with the move-' ment of a slit element, and friction contact elements associated with certain of the said guide rods for acting upon the sheet.

9. In a sheet folding machine, the combination of slit forming elements, means for closing the slit to facilitate the passage of the sheet over the same, a plurality of horizontal guide rods, means for causing longitudinal. reciprocation of certain of said guide rods simultaneously with the movement of a slit element, and friction contact means supported on certain of said guide rods and cooperating with certain other guide rods for acting upon the sheet.

10. In a sheet folding machine, the combination of slit forming elements, means for closing the slit to facilitate the passage of the sheet, a plurality of horizontal guide rods, means for causing longitudinal reciprocation of certain of said guide rods simultaneously with the movement of a slit element, friction contact means associated with certain of the guide rods for acting on the sheet, and means for arbitrarily adjusting the tension of said friction contact.

11. In a sheet folding machine, the com bination of a slit formation having an element adapted to open and close the slit, guide rods extending longitudinally of the travel of the sheet, some above and others below the plane of said travel and all supported at one end in connection with said slit element,means connected with the other ends of said. rods for reciprocating the rods and said element, and means sup- &

ported by some of the rods and cooperating with other of said rods for frictioi'ial engagement with the sheet.

12. In a sheet folding machine, the combination of a plurality of guide rods extending longitudinally of the travel of the sheet, some above and some below the plane of said travel, and reciprocating means having frictional, engagement with the sheet against certain guide rods, one movement of reciprocation being in the direction of the travel of the sheet.

13. In a sheet folding machine, having slit elements adapted to open and close the slit, the combination of a plurality of guide rods extending longitudinally of the travel of the sheet, some above and some below the plane of said travel, and reciprocating means having friction engagement with the sheet, one movement of reciprocation being in the direction of the travel of the sheet and synchronous with the opening of the slit.

14. In a sheet folding machine, the combination of stops for arresting the forward travel of the sheet, and a side registering device for operating upon the sheet, friction devices for engaging the sheet along a line slightly in advance of the line of movement of the side registering device, for maintain.- ing the front edge of the sheet against the stops during its sidewise movement.

15. In a sheet folding machine, the combination of stops for arresting the forward travel of the sheet, and a side registering device for operating upon the sheet after its front edge encounters the stops, f1 iction devices for engaging the sheet along a line slightly inadvance of the line of movement of the side registering device, for maintaining the front edge of the sheet against the stops during its sidewise movement.

16. In a sheet folding machine, the combi nation of stops for arr ting the forward travel of the sheet, and a side registering device for operating upon the sheet, friction devices for engaging the sheet along a line approximate the line of movement of the side registering device, for maintaining the front edge of the sheet against the stops during its sidewise movement.

1?. In a sheet folding machine, the combi nation of stops for arresting the travel of the sheet, and a side registering device for operating upon the sheet, reciprocating friction devices for assuring the forward travel of the sheet until its front edge engages squarely with the stops, and a side registering device for then operating on the sheet, said friction elements adapted while at rest to engage the sheet along a line approximate the line of movement of the side registering device,-for maintaining the front edge of the sheet squarely against the stops during its sidewise movement;

18. In a sheet folding machine, the combi nation of stops for arresting the travel of the sheet, longitudinally extending guide rods positioned above and below the plane of said travel, means forming a slit, means for reciprocating some of the guide rods to cause their ends to overlap the cues of other rods near the slit, reciprocatin friction contact elements for engaging the sheet, one movement of reciprocation being in direction of the travel of the sheet, a side registering device, and means for holding said friction elements at rest, during the operation of the side registering dev ce, and in contact with the sheet along a line approximate the line of travel of said side registering device.

19. In a sheet folding machine, the combination of stops'for arresting the sheet at the end of its travel, longitudinally extending guide rods positioned above and below the plane of said travel, a slit formation h ving an element adapted to open and close the slit, means for reciprocating some of the guide rods, simultaneously with the movement of a slit element, to cause their ends to overlap the ends of other rods near the slit, reciprocating resilient friction contact elements, one movement of reciprocation being in direction of the travel of the sheet, a side registering device, and means for holding the friction elements in contact with the sheet along a line approximate the line of. travel of the side registering device, during the sidewise movement of the sheet.

HOIVARD Ii. KING. 

